I know I am overdue a studio album with my band, but sometimes life gets in our way. Death does that too. I had a run of that and let it get the best of me. I did not realize how much support I needed emotionally from my family til most of them were gone. Same with love. I'm not a quick study. Took me years - but after a combination of self imposed rules and non-deadlines and procrastination I humbly present to you this new CD.
We've all been through a lot of changes. Most noticeable here are new players and guest musicians.
The first song we cut was Cathead. Rob was all dressed up in his black suit with white piping - he said he felt like he was at church since we were at Sun Studio. The band came together great. Jake Kelly, who has become one of my best friends, had offered to play guitar and came in from Nashville (he had never met any of my band before); Robert Hall (who played with me on my very first CD and went on to play with Jerry Lee Lewis) was bailing me out on drums since James Cunningham had a CD release party with his other band that night. Ronnie rolled out some great ideas for the songs and as always helped keep things organized. The scene in the studio was musicians meeting each other for the first time, and all these folks had come together to help me on this record. We cut everything old school live after a couple of run throughs. I like to spring new songs on the band that are unrehearsed. There is something about spontaneity and letting people feel their way through a tune - the song becomes something that is a little bit of all of the players. When that happens it's magical - mix it with the mysterious thing that happens for musicians in Memphis and at Sun Studio and you really got something special. James and Matt get it. Keith Sykes gets it - and me. Everyone one of these musicians gave all they had in them the four nights it took to cut this record. I sure hope you hear it, and feel the love that was in the studio with us. I could not have come out of my funk without them and the faith, love, understanding and support of so many people who have become my extended family.
A simple "Thank you" is not enough, I owe each of them so much and hope that someday I can return all the generosity they showed. Keith Sykes, Robert Maché, James Cunningham and Ronnie Vandiver. Jake Kelly, Rob McNurlin, Robert Hall, Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms, Roy Brewer, Reba Russell, Deborah Swiney, Candace Maché, Jimmy Davis, Phoebe Lewis, James Lott and Matt Ross-Spang, Barbara Blue, Sun Studio, Larry and Kevin Nix, Ronny Elliott, Bob Childers, John Cooper, Jerene Sykes, Deb Smith, Connie and Chuck Horn and Woodyfest. Jimmy, Jane and Ruby Jane Baldwin, Michael O'Neill, Dan Ball, Margaret "Peggy" Wolf, Kent Barker, WEVL - Nancy, Ed and Joyce and all my FAR radio friends. Thanks to all the characters who float in and out of my life and live in these songs, and unfeignedly to a pirate named Jimmy Z who has inspired me to write some happy songs for my next record. Love always, Nancy
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